hANDS UP IN THE AIR!

This helps to further round out ourthree regionsNorthern, Central & Southerneach offering between 3 to 5 races

plus a TRIPLE CROSS PRO SKIJORING Championship Final!

SO LET'S PARTY!

Our Advisory Committee met last week and we are VERY close to posting Rules & Regs so that competitors have an understanding of the SJUSA points format and the process for nominating teams by division.Thank you for your patience!

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What an exhilarating day it was for horse racing!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JUSTIFY & MIKE SMITHON A TRIPLE CROWN VICTORY!

As the Associated Press reported from New York,

"He didn't flinch when greeted by 90,327 roaring fans as he walked onto the track. He stood so quietly in the starting gate that jockey Mike Smith wondered if he'd respond when it sprang open. Did he ever. Justify led all the way in achieving one of the sports world's toughest feats 45 years to the day that Secretariat won the Belmont by a record 31 lengths. Baffert called Justify one of the all-time greats."

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This is the perfect time to focus on and honorour Silent Athletes of Skijoring

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SUMMER TRAINING CAMP

Here are some summer conditioning tips from Jerry Kissell and Dana Stilesof the SJUSA Advisory Committee

This will build up and tear down muscle as well as build lung capacity.If your horse has never skijored before, also work with your horse to get used to the feeling of dragging something using a tire or a log and desensitize him/her to noises and distractions commonly found at races such as ~ noise from crowds or speakers~ sensations like a rope touching your horse's hind quarters or feet ~ the confusion of a start area~ the sound and sight of a skier entering your horses's blind spots

Erica Dube Hutchings adds that riders should engage in cardio and weight training and engage their horses in trail riding, roping and arena events. In other words, put in as much time in the saddle as you can and ENJOY! ! !

We will post more specific recommendations on our website.

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MORE HALL OF FAME NOMINEES!

This week our Advisory Committee has recommended the following inductees:

Skijor USA is inspired to acknowledge our athletes' victories over the summer. We will be following your Face Book pages and connecting with you personally to be sure others know of your achievements!

For instance, JAMES OTTEMANis a young Lieutenant firefighter from Flagler, Coloradowho has competed as a skier in Leadville.James will be doing a stair climb on July 2ndin New York's World Trade Center 3 to honor those lost on 9/11.Firefighters will be flying in from countries around the world including female firefighters from New Zealand, Croatia and Brazil.James did not compete this year in Leadville because he was busy climbing stairs for another good cause that same weekend with over 60 pounds of fire gear on his back! He and Leadville shared the spotlight on the nightly news!

Please write in with anything you would like to share and we will post it.

info@skijorusa.com

What a great way to get to know each other!

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~ IT'S A SMALL WORLD! ~

Last weekend, a para sailer, named Cedar Wright, literally came out of the blueand landed in a hayfield in McCoy, Colorado.

What makes this occurrence extraordinary is that Cedar is good friends with one of the Olympic athletes who has recently taken an interest in our sport. Cedar has also worked closely with a global adventure filmmaker in Colorado with whom SJUSA has connections and is discussing a skijoring project.

SJUSA continues to leverage its network to bring skijoring into the spotlight. A proposal is under review by one of the biggest producers in Hollywood!

Speaking of films. . .

Anyone interested in rodeo may be interested in

THE RIDER

This is an extraordinary MUST SEE story of a real-life Lakota cowboy,Brady Jandreau, who plays himself. The film, directed by Chloé Zhao, was a major hit at the Cannes Film Festival and went on to Telluride and Sundance.

The film is dedicated to:"All of the riders who live their lives 8 seconds at a time."

Here is the link to the trailer:http://www.vulture.com/2018/02/watch-the-rider-movie-trailer-from-director-chlo-zhao.html

It opened in NY & LA theaters on April 13, 2018, but may also be on Netflix